Editorial
Hamilton’s response to exective orders
By Editorial Staff
February 2, 2017
Tags editorial
On Friday, January 27, President Trump signed an executive order banning the entry of citizens from seven Muslim majority countries. The order also suspended the US refugee program for six months and the Syrian refugees program indefinitely. The executive order has been met with a swift and fierce reaction from the many who viewed it as a discriminatory policy. The order was also viewed as contradictory to American’s promise of humanitarian leadership.
Like many institutions across the United States, the Hamilton community quickly expressed their concerns regarding the discriminatory policies put in place by Trump’s order. On January 30, President David Wippman addressed these concerns in a school-wide email and acknowledged that the restrictions implemented by the executive order are “[inconsistent] with some of our community’s core values.” He then discussed the college’s response to the order during the Facebook Live Q & A with Senior Class President Silvia Radulescu ’17 the following day.
In his addresses to the school, President Wippman has pledged not to change the school’s admission or hiring policies. He has also assured the community that the college does not and will not share a student’s immigration status unless legally compelled. Furthermore, he reports that the school is looking into legal support for students impacted by the order if necessary. In a discussion with the International Student Association on February 2, he also discussed various options to support the general international student population at Hamilton.
International and Muslim community members constitute an invaluable part of Hamilton. Depriving these members from their basic rights to dignity, due process and religious freedom is a despicable act. The Spectator condemns these policies and their deviance from the founding principles of our republic. We stand in solidarity with our fellow students, professors and staff members who are affected by these decisions.